August 20, 2008

Dear Parents and Students,

Welcome to sixth grade gifted and advanced mathematics! In this course, my goal is to make students comfortable with the accelerated mathematics curriculum and provide them with the necessary critical thinking skills to perform on the FCAT test in March. As we head into the new school year, I'm sure you are beginning to think about your sixth grade son or daughter's transition to middle school this year. This transition is clearly an important event in your child's life, and one of which we would like to make as smooth and comfortable as possible, and working together as a team will continue the tradition of reaching for excellence here at Highland Oaks Middle School.

I am very excited to announce the addition of Pearson SuccessNet to our educational curriculum here at Highland Oaks Middle School. Pearson SuccessNet offers you the opportunity to look inside your child's day-to-day learning. It also offers the student the opportunity to access the full textbook online from anywhere in the world. Early success at school can be a shared learning experience! As a partner helping your child make the most of learning, Pearson SuccessNet offers the right tools for you and your child. It all begins with a simple login at the web site. Directions for logging in can be found on the home page of this web site.

I view homework as the practice before a game. It is okay to make mistakes, but you must participate to be successful. In class, we check homework for completion, give answers, and help with anything that needs to be corrected. If your child is doing homework, feel free to help. If you really get stuck on anything, write a note on that problem so I can help in class the next day.

Our grading policy is set by the new electronic gradebook. Please see my grading policy located on the home page of this web site for more details. Your child will have a minimum of one week’s notice before a test or quiz, and I work with each team member to ensure students are not inundated with tests on a given day.

My web site is the best source of information for my class, thus utilize the site to stay abreast of any important information such as testing dates, announcements, and daily homework information. Thank you in advance for all of your help. I know we will have a very productive year. If you need anything, please email me. I look forward to working with all of you in the months to come.

Sincerely,

Mr. Hoskins

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